THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO MADE THE 2019 COURSE A SUCCESS!

This is the 34th year of the course, “Medical and Surgical Aspects of Esophageal and Foregut Disorders: Pathophysiology and Treatment”.  This year we are pleased to again bring together outstanding leaders in the field of Esophageal Disease as faculty and special guests.  The faculty brings broad experience in benign and malignant esophageal disease from diverse locations throughout the United States and Europe to ensure a comprehensive, state-of-the-art yet balanced approach to the diagnosis and management of patients with esophageal and foregut disorders.

We are extremely pleased to announce that our special guest surgical faculty this year is Dr. Jesper Lagergren and our special guest medical faculty is Dr. Christopher Thompson.  

Dr. JesperLagergren is Professor and Chairman of Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer at King’s College London as well as Professor and Consultant of Surgery at Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, Sweden. He is also a member of the Nobel Assembly. He authored the New England Journal of Medicine article linking gastroesophageal reflux with esophageal adenocarcinoma, in addition to hundreds of other important papers.  Most recently he has linked PPI use with esophageal cancer.

Dr. Christopher Thompson practices at Brigham Women’s Hospital and is Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA. He is the current Chair of the Association of Bariatric Endoscopy. Dr. Thompson is an internationally recognized thought leader in the endoscopic management of bariatric patients including complications of bariatric surgical procedures and is the editor of the first textbook on Bariatric Endoscopy. You will not want to miss this opportunity to have these giants in their fields share their experiences and insights with you.  

Further, the course remains grounded with the core faculty and additional guest faculty including co-directors Steve DeMeester and Philip Katz, associate director Jeff Peters, emeritus directors Tom DeMeester and Don Castell, board member Stu Spechler, returning faculty Felice Schnoll-Sussman, Para Chandrasoma, Lee Swanstrom and Daniela Molena along with guest faculty Guilherme Campos and Pernilla Lagergren.

For those that have not been before, the course is specifically designed to have the feel and interaction of a small-group classroom environment where questions, comments and discussion are encouraged.  The course is open to all physicians and allied health personnel with an interest in esophageal and foregut disorders and is particularly appreciated by gastroenterologists and gastrointestinal surgeons who focus on the diagnosis and treatment of patients with esophageal disorders, and for those who have or are interested in developing a swallowing center and function as a team to collaboratively approach esophageal problems.  The lectures are detailed and supported by existing literature and ongoing research to provide cutting-edge information that can be immediately applied to patient care.  Each lecture is followed by ample time for often vigorous discussion and interaction between the faculty and attendees as areas of controversy are further explored and debated.  Featured topics this year include Esophageal Function and Dysmotility, Obesity, Achalasia, Barrett’s Esophagus and Esophageal Cancer.

In addition, the interactive audience response session that was initiated the last two years will continue this year with a session on the Super Bowl of Esophageal Physiology and Pathophysiology and great prizes will be given to the winners. As in prior years, there will be “Interactive New Technology” break-out sessions and Hands-on Certificate Sessions where participants will get added exposure to valuable new technologies or procedures and be provided instruction, assistance and information exchange from the faculty. It promises to be a truly interesting, informative and enjoyable educational experience!  We hope you can join us on the beautiful Big Island of Hawaii this February!

ACCREDITATION

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the American College of Surgeons and Foundation for Research and Education in Esophageal and Foregut Disease. The American College of Surgeons is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™: The American College of Surgeons designates this live activity for a maximum of 31.25 CME    AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

ABS MOC Program: This activity will also provide self-assessment credits towards Part 2 of the ABS MOC Program. In order to claim self-assessment credits toward Part 2 of the American Board of Surgery (ABS) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Program, eligible learners must complete and pass (75% passing rate) a graded quiz. Please note that only ABS qualified surgeons are eligible for MOC credit.